Pull Type Pepper Harvester

ABSTRACT

The harvester frame is supported by laterally adjustable wheels. A hitch draft tube connects the frame to a tractor. A transverse horizontal shaft is journaled on a frame mast. A header frame rear is attached to the horizontal shaft. Ground engaging wheels support the header front. Two spaced apart helix assemblies on the header frame are rotated to remote fruit from plants. The helix forward ends work at ground level. Helix rear ends are elevated. A header lift bar is journaled on the horizontal shaft. A header lift cylinder pivots a free end of the lift bar into engagement with the header frame and lifts header wheels from the ground. Conveyors convey crop material from the helix assemblies to a fruit cleaning assembly with a forward end attached to the frame mast. Separated and cleaned fruit is received from the cleaning assembly and discharged from the harvester.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of and claims the benefit of the filingdate of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/050,792, titled PULL TYPEPEPPER HARVESTER filed Mar. 13, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The tractor pulled pepper harvester removes mature peppers from a singlerow of pepper plants, leaves the pepper plants standing and separatespeppers from foreign material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Peppers are harvested by hand pickers as well as by machines. Machinepickers reduce the cost of picking thereby making peppers available forconsumption at a relatively low cost. Hand pickers are freed for higherpaying tasks that can not be accomplished by machines.

Crops are harvested by whole crop harvesters that remove the entireplant from the roots and run the plant material through a separating andcleaning assembly. Whole crop harvesters have not been acceptable forpeppers. They leave too much plant material mixed with dried peppers.Fresh peppers mature over a period of time. As a result a substantialportion of a crop would be lost if fresh peppers of various varietieswere harvested by a whole crop harvester.

Machine harvesters for peppers that remove the fruit and leave the plantstanding have been used for some years. These harvesters harvest thefruit and leave most of the stalks, stems and leaves in the field whenharvesting fresh peppers as well as dried peppers.

Successful self propelled mechanical harvesters that remove fruit fromtwo or more rows of plants simultaneously are known. The plant rows aregenerally a minimum of 400 meters long. The machines require a uniformdistance between rows. Relatively large transport equipment is requiredto transport the fruit from the field. The transport equipment andharvesters require substantial space to turn around at each end of therows. These machines tend to lose too much crop in high production areaswhere hand pickers have been used for centuries, and agronomy practiceshave not been modified to accommodate relatively large machines. Farmsas well as individual fields are often too small to justify the cost ofa self propelled harvester and the transportation systems required tomove harvested fruit from a high capacity harvester to a processingfacility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pull type pepper harvester has a frame. A right side axle tube andspindle is telescopically received in a horizontal transverse tube ofthe frame and locked in one of a plurality of selectable positionsrelative to the frame. A left side axle tube and spindle istelescopically received in the horizontal transverse tube of the frameand locked in one of a plurality selectable positions relative to theframe. A right tire and wheel is journaled on the right side axle tubeand spindle. A left tire and wheel is journaled on the left side axletube and spindle.

A hitch assembly includes a main draft tube with a draft tube rearportion pivotally attached to the frame by at least one pin for pivotalmovement about a vertical axis. A draft tube forward portion is adaptedto be connected to a tractor. An adjustable length strut is pivotallyattached to the frame and to the main draft tube. The adjustable lengthstrut is extended to increase length to hold the main draft tube in aharvesting position. The adjustable length strut is retracted todecrease length and hold the main draft tube in a transport position.

A header assembly includes a rigid header frame with a header frame rearportion pivotally attached to the frame for pivotal movement about atransverse horizontal axis. A left side ground engaging tire and wheelis mounted on a header frame front portion of the rigid header frameadjacent to a rigid header frame left side. The left side groundengaging tire and wheel is vertically adjustable relative to the rigidheader frame. A right side ground engaging tire and wheel is mounted onthe header frame front portion of the rigid header frame adjacent to arigid header frame right side. The right side ground engaging tire andwheel is vertically adjustable relative to the rigid header frame. Aleft snout assembly and a right snout assembly are pivotally mounted onthe rigid header frame. A left plant feed assembly and a right plantfeed assembly, mounted on the rigid header frame front portion,cooperate with each other to urge crop plants from the left snoutassembly and the right snout assembly to the rear relative to the rigidheader frame. A left helix assembly is journaled on the rigid headerframe by a left rear bearing and extends downward and forward from theleft rear bearing. A right helix assembly is journaled on the rigidheader frame by a right rear bearing and extends downward and forwardfrom the right rear bearing. The right helix assembly is parallel to theleft helix assembly and spaced from the left helix assembly. A leftexpanded metal grate under the left helix assembly has an outboard edgefixed to the rigid header frame and an inboard metal edge that forms theleft side of a plant passage through the header assembly. A rightexpanded metal grate under the right helix assembly has an outboard edgefixed to the rigid header frame and an inboard metal edge that forms aright side of the plant passage through the header assembly. A leftcontinuous belt and slat conveyor is mounted on the rigid header frameto the left side of the left helix assembly. A right continuous belt andslat conveyor is mounted on the rigid header frame to the right side ofthe helix assembly. A left expanded metal side panel, a right expandedmetal side panel, and at least one expanded metal top cover retain anddeflect fruit separated from plants by the left helix assembly and theright helix assembly into the left continuous belt and slat conveyor andinto the right continuous belt and slat conveyor.

A header lift assembly includes a header hydraulic lift cylinderconnected to the frame and to the rigid header frame through a linkage.

A drum conveyor includes a cylindrical tube. A conveyor front wall witha circular aperture is fixed to the cylindrical tube. A conveyor rearwall, with a circular aperture is fixed to the cylindrical tube. Aplurality of divider plates are connected to the conveyor front wall andthe conveyor rear wall to form a plurality of fruit receiving pockets.The fruit receiving pockets receive fruit from the left continuous beltand slat conveyor and the right continuous belt and slat conveyor. Aleft side driven roller and a right side driven roller journaled on theframe support the cylindrical tube and rotate the cylindrical tube toelevate fruit in the plurality of fruit receiving pockets. A fixedarcuate plate closes a radially inward facing opening of the pluralityof fruit receiving pockets from a location past a fruit receivinglocation to a fruit discharge position.

A fruit separating and cleaning assembly includes a left vertical sidewall and a right vertical side wall that extend through the circularaperture through the conveyor rear wall and through the circularaperture through the front wall of the drum conveyor, clamped to avertical frame portion of frame and extending rearwardly from thevertical frame portion. A transverse rear wall is fixed to the leftvertical side wall and to the right vertical side wall. A hood coversthe area between the left vertical side wall and the right vertical sidewall and extends forward from the transverse rear wall. A plurality ofhorizontal star wheel shafts, each of which is journaled on the leftvertical side wall and the right side wall, are parallel to each other.A plurality of star wheels are mounted on each of the plurality of starwheel shafts. A fan is connected to the left vertical side wall and theright vertical side wall and discharges air through fruit dischargedfrom the drum conveyor and under the hood. A plurality of plate shaftsare journaled on the left vertical side wall and the right vertical sidewall below the plurality of horizontal star wheel shafts. A plurality ofplate assemblies are mounted on each of the plurality of plate shafts. Aplate of each of the plurality of plate assemblies on each of theplurality of plate shafts extends between the plates of the plurality ofplate assemblies mounted on each adjacent one of the plurality plateshafts. An endless drive chain driven by a hydraulic motor drivesprocket is trained around a star wheel driven sprocket on each of theplurality of star wheel shafts and a plate shaft driven sprocket on eachof the plurality of plate shafts. A trash discharge passage is providedbetween a rear star wheel of the plurality of horizontal star wheelshafts and the transverse rear wall.

A transverse conveyor assembly, mounted on the frame below a forwardplate shaft of the plurality of plate shafts, includes a transverseconveyor discharge end. A fruit discharge conveyor is pivotally mountedon the frame for pivotal movement about a vertical discharge conveyoraxis. A discharge conveyor hopper is positioned under the transverseconveyor discharge end. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the frame andthe fruit discharge conveyor pivots the fruit discharge conveyor aboutthe vertical discharge conveyor axis.

The header lift assembly includes the header lift assembly with a liftcylinder rod end pivotally connected to a lift bar assembly. The liftbar assembly has a lift bar upper end journaled of a transversehorizontal shaft with the transverse horizontal axis. A lower end crossbar of the lift bar assembly engages the rigid header frame duringextension of the header hydraulic lift cylinder and lifts the left sideground engaging tire and wheel and the right side ground engaging tireand wheel from the ground. Retraction of the header hydraulic liftcylinder lowers the left side ground engaging tire and wheel and theright side ground engaging wheel and tire to the ground. Continuedretraction of the header hydraulic cylinder disengages the lift barassembly from the rigid header frame thereby permitting the rigid headerto pivot downward as well as upward as the harvester moves along a rowof plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in thefollowing description and in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front and right hand side ofthe harvester with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear and right hand side of theharvester with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connection of theharvesting head and the upright frame assembly with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transverse conveyor discharge endand the pivotally mounted discharge conveyor with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the right hand rear wheel and a portionof the frame with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the right snout assembly and the righthand harvesting head support wheel;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the frame front and left side with partsremoved and parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the driven portions of theharvesting head with parts broken away;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the header lift bar assembly and thelift cylinder.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of a star wheel;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first side of a plate assembly; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a plate assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The terms left hand and right hand are as seen by a person standingbehind the machine and facing in the direction of normal forwardmovement. The frame is constructed from rectangular tubular steel forstrength. The frame could be fabricated from beams that are not tubularor rectangular.

The pull type pepper harvester 10 includes a frame 12. Two tires andwheel assemblies 14 are journaled on an axle assembly 16. The axleassembly 16 includes a horizontal transverse tube 18 that is fixed tothe frame 12. A right side axle tube 20, shown in FIG. 5, istelescopically received in the horizontal tube 18 and locked in aselected position by bolts 22 and 24. A right spindle is fixed to anoutboard end of the right side axle tube 20. A wheel hub 26 is journaledon the right spindle. A left side axle tube 28, shown in FIG. 7, istelescopically received in the horizontal tube 18 and locked in aselected position by bolts, the same as the bolts 22 and 24 that holdthe right side axle tube 20. A left spindle is fixed to an outboard endof the left side axle tube 28. A wheel hub 30 is journaled on thespindle. A plurality of bores 32 are provided through the right sideaxle tube 20 and the left side axle tube 28 for adjusting the positionof the tires and wheels assemblies 14 relative to the frame 12 asrequired to accommodate the row spacing of the pepper rows. The tire andwheel assemblies 14 are adjusted to roll on the ground between rows ofplants.

A hitch assembly 34 includes a main draft tube 36. The main draft tube36 is pivotally attached to a vertical tube 38 of the frame 12 by anupper pin 40 and a lower pin 42 for pivotal movement about a verticalaxis. An adjustable length strut 44 includes a rear tube 46 that ispivotally attached to the frame 12 by a vertical pivot pin 48 that ishorizontally spaced to the right from the lower pin 42. A forward tube50 is telescopically received in the rear tube 46 and has a forward endpivotally attached to the main draft tube 36 by a vertical pivot pin 52.An adjustment pin 54 passes through a bore through the rear tube 46 andthrough one of a plurality of bores through the forward tube 50. Theadjustment pin 54 can lock the adjustable length strut 44 in a retractedposition in which the frame 12 follows directly behind a towing tractorfor movement on a road. The adjustment 54 can also lock the adjustablestrut 44 in an extended position in which the harvester 10 issubstantially to the right of the towing tractor and the towing tractoris to the left of the row of peppers that is being harvested. There arepreferably multiple bores through the forward tube 50 for the receivingadjustment pin 54 when the length of the adjustable length strut 44 isextended to accommodate towing tractors with different sizes and toposition the wheels of the towing tractor between plant rows. A hitch(not shown) is secured to the forward end of the main draft tube 36.This hitch cooperates with a hitch portion on a tractor to connect theharvester 10 to a tractor.

A header assembly 60 includes a rigid header frame 62. The header frame62 includes fore and aft extending beams 64 and 66. A transversehorizontal shaft 68 is secured to the rear portions of the fore and aftextending beams 64 and 66. The horizontal shaft 68 is journaled inbearing housings 70 and 72. The bearing housing 70 is bolted to ahorizontal member 74 that extends rearward from a vertical tube 76 ofthe frame 12. The bearing housing 72 is bolted to a horizontal member 78that extends rearward from a vertical tube 80 of the frame 12. The lowerends of the vertical tubes 38, 76 and 80 are welded to a transversehorizontal tube 82 of the main frame 12. A horizontal transverse tube 84is welded to the upper ends of the vertical tubes 38, 76 and 80. Foreand aft extending horizontal tubes 86 and 88, shown in FIGS. 2 and 7,are welded to the transverse horizontal tube 82. A rear transversehorizontal tube 90 is welded to the rear ends of the fore and aftextending horizontal tubes 86 and 88. The tube 90 is parallel to thetube 82. The horizontal transverse tube 18 is part of the axle assembly16 that is supported by tire and wheel assemblies 14, is fixed to therear transverse horizontal tube 90 by two fore and aft tubes 92 and 94.

The header assembly 60 includes a rigid header frame 62 with transverseheader frame tubes 96 and 98 that are welded to fore and aft upperheader tubes 100 and 102. Lower side rails 104, one of which is shown,are parallel to each other and connected together by front verticaltubes 106 and 108. Parallel rear vertical tubes 110 are each welded toan end of the transverse header frame tube 96 and to an end of one ofthe two lower side rails 104. The front vertical tubes 106 and 108 aresubstantially longer than the two rear vertical tubes 110. The firstrear vertical tube 110 on the left side is welded to the fore and aftbeam 64. The second rear vertical tube 110 on the right side is weldedto the fore and aft beam 66.

The front portion of the rigid frame 62 is supported by a left groundengaging tire and wheel 112 and by a right ground engaging tire andwheel 114. The two tires and wheels 112 and 114, as shown in FIG. 6, arejournaled on yoke assemblies 116. The yoke assemblies 116 supportingground engaging tires and wheels 112 and 114 are identical. The yoke116, as shown in FIG. 6 is welded to the forward end of a beam 118. Therear of the beam 118 is pivotally attached to the front of the rigidheader frame 62 by a transverse horizontal pivot pin 120. A turn buckleassembly 122 is pivotally attached to the rigid header frame 62 and tothe beam 118 by a bolt 124. Lengthening the turn buckle assembly 122pivots the beam 118 about the pivot pin 120 thereby lowering the tireand wheel 114 relative to the rigid frame 62. Lengthening the turnbuckleassembly 122 raises the front of the header frame 62 and pivots theheader frame and the transverse horizontal shaft 68 in the bearinghousings 70 and 72. Shortening the turnbuckle assembly 122 pivots thetransverse horizontal shaft 68 in the bearing housings 70 and 72 andlowers the front of the header frame 62. The turnbuckle assemblies 122are adjusted so that both tires and wheels 112 and 114 support the frontof the rigid header frame 62 when harvesting on level ground. On unevenground the tire and wheel 112 or 114 on the highest field surfacesupports more or even all of the weight of the header assembly 60 thatis supported by the two tires and wheels on level ground.

A left snout assembly 126 and the right snout assembly 128 are pivotallyattached to the rigid header frame 62 by pivot pins 130 for pivotalmovement about a transverse horizontal axis. A snout turnbuckle assembly132 is pivotally attached to the frame 62 by a pivot pin 134. A sliderassembly 136 on a forward end of the snout turnbuckle assembly 132 isslidably received in a slot 138 in a bracket 140 fixed in the snoutassembly 128, as shown in FIG. 6. The turnbuckle assembly 132 isshortened to raise the leading end of the snout assembly 128. Theturnbuckle assembly 132 is lengthened to lower the leading end of thesnout assembly 128. A snout tip 142 is mounted on the leading end of theright snout assembly 128. A snout tip 144 is mounted on the leading tipof the left snout assembly 144. The turnbuckle assemblies 132 for eachsnout assembly 126 and 128 are adjusted so that the snout tips 142 and144 slide along the surface of a field that is to be harvested. Thesnout tips 142 and 144 lift plant material and fruit that is on theground between plant rows. The slider assembly 136 in the slot 138 ispositioned in selected positions by the turnbuckle assembly 132 so thatthe snout tips 142 and 144 slide along the surface of a field andprevents the snout tips 142 and 144 from descending downward past aselected level. The slots 138 and the slider assembly 136 permit thesnout tips to slide up over obstructions.

The snout walls 146 of the left and right snout assemblies 126 and 128direct pepper plants and peppers laterally inward toward the center ofthe plant row and toward two plant feed assemblies 148 and 150. Eachplant feed assembly 148 and 150 includes a generally cylindrical tube152 with a substantially vertical axis. A plurality of vertically spacedapart horizontal slots 154 are provided through the wall of each of thecylindrical tubes 152. Plant material feed fingers 156 are secured tovertical shafts 162 and driven by hydraulic motors 158 and 160. Thehydraulic motors 158 and 160 and the vertical shafts that they drive areoffset from the vertical axes of the cylindrical tubes 152 toward eachother. The feed fingers 156 mounted on the vertical shafts 162 engageplant material passing between the walls 146 of the left and right snoutassemblies 126 and 128 and move it gently between the cylindrical tubes158. The feed fingers 156 retract into the inside of the cylindricaltubes 152 after plant material is conveyed between both of thecylindrical tubes. The slots 154 end in the portions of cylindricaltubes 152 in which the feed fingers 156 are entirely inside the tubes.The feed fingers 156 pass through slots 154 and extend out of thecylindrical tubes 152 near the front edge of the cylindrical tubes.Generally flat plates 164 with slots 166 guide plant material from theleft and right snout assemblies to the cylindrical tubes 152.

The header assembly 60 includes a left helix assembly 168 and a righthelix assembly 170 for harvesting fruit from plants. Each helix assembly168 and 170 includes a central shaft 172 that is journaled on the rigidheader frame 62 by a rear bearing 174 and a front support bearing 176. Aconical member 178 is fixed to the lower forward end of each centralshaft 172. Radial arms 180 are fixed to each central shaft 172. A rod isbent to form a helix 182 and welded to the free ends of the radial arms180. The radial arms 180 have the same length. The central shaft 172 isin the center of the helix 182. The lower end of each helix 182 iswelded to the conical member 178. The upper end of each helix 182 iswelded to a cylindrical tube 184 secured to the upper end of the centralshaft 172. The two helix assemblies 168 and 170 are driven in a timedrelation relative to each other by a continuous roller chain trainedaround sprockets on the upper end of each central shaft 172 and ahydraulic motor drive (not shown). An expanded metal grate 186 with aninboard metal edge 188 is mounted on the frame 62 under each helixassembly 168 and 170. The space between the two inboard metal edges 188is for the passage of plant stalks, stems and leaves. The outboard edgesof each of the expanded metal grates 186 are fixed to the rigid headerframe 62. A right continuous belt and slat conveyor 190 is mounted onthe header frame 62 outboard of right helix assembly 170. A leftcontinuous belt and slat conveyor 192 is mounted on the header frame 62outboard of the left helix assembly 168. A plate 194 is provided betweenthe right helix assembly 170 and the belt and slot conveyor 190. Theplate 194 permits lateral movement of the right helix assembly 170 toadjust the space between the left helix assembly 168 and the right helixassembly. Minor adjustments in the space between the left helix assembly168 and the right helix assembly 170 are made to accommodate changes incrop conditions. These changes may keep the right helix assembly 170parallel to the left helix assembly 168. The adjustable right helixassembly 170 may also be adjusted to vary the space between the righthelix assembly and the left helix assembly 168 from the lower forwardends to the upper rear ends of the two helix assemblies. Theseadjustments will maintain the left helix assembly 168 and the righthelix assembly 170 and the axes of their central shafts 172 in a commonhelix plane.

The helix assemblies 168 and 170 are rotated so that the helix bars 182on both helix assemblies closest to the row of plants both moveupwardly, contact fruit, move the fruit upward and rearward, separatemature fruit from the plant and leave fruit such as peppers that areimmature on the plant to continue to grow and mature. Dry chili peppersare harvested only one time. The helix bars 182 tend to throw peppersupward and outward. To prevent loss of separated fruits, both sides ofthe header assembly 60 are covered by expanded metal panels 196. The topof the header assembly 60 is covered by two expanded metal covers 198and 200. Each of the expanded metal covers 198 and 200 is connected tothe transverse header frame tube 98 by a hinge 197. This hinge 197permits both expanded metal covers 198 and 200 to be opened formaintenance.

The tires and wheels 112 and 114 that support the front of the headerassembly and follow the terrain as the harvester moves along a row ofplants with fruit to be harvested are not steerable. It is thereforedesirable to lift the tires and wheels 112 and 114 off the ground whenturning around at the end of a plant row and when moving to or from afield to be harvested. It is also desirable to raise the front of theheader assembly 60 when crossing obstructions such as an irrigationditch or a grass water way for soil erosion control. If the tires andwheels 112 and 114 are permitted to follow the terrain into adepression, it is possible for the snout tips 142 and 144 to contact abank on the far side of the depression and become buried. The headerlift system includes a lift bar assembly 195. The lift bar assembly 195includes a left bar 201 with a left connector plate 203 on its upper endand a right bar 205 with a right connector plate 207. The left connectorplate 203 is clamped to a left bearing block and bearing 209 mounted onthe transverse horizontal shaft 68 by bolts. The right connector plate207 is clamped to a right bearing block and bearing 211 mounted on thetransverse horizontal shaft 68. A first transverse cross bar 213 iswelded to the left bar 201 and to the right bar 205 midway between theends of both bars and holds the two bars parallel to each other andspaced apart. A pair of spaced apart ears 215 are welded to the firsttransverse cross bar 213. A second cross bar 217 is welded to theforward end of the left bar 201 and the right bar 205. The second crossbar 217 is parallel to the transverse horizontal shaft 68. A headerhydraulic lift cylinder 219 has a rod end that is pivotally connected tothe spaced apart ears 215, welded to the first cross bar 213 by a pivotpin 221. A pair of spaced apart ears 223, welded to the transversehorizontal tube 82 of the frame 12, are pivotally attached to a head endof the hydraulic lift cylinder 219. Extension of the hydraulic cylinder219 pivots the left and right bars 201 and 205 about the horizontalshaft 68 and moves the second cross bar 217 into engagement with thebottom of the rigid header frame 62. Continued extension of thehydraulic cylinder 219 pivots the rigid header frame 62 and the left bar201 and the right bar 205 together with the transverse header shaft 68about the shaft axis and lifts the tires and wheels 112 and 114 off theground. The tires and wheels 112 and 114 are lifted off the ground forcrossing obstacles, for transport on roads and for making sharp turns.The second cross bar 217 of the lift bar assembly 195 is lowered aselected distance below the rigid header frame 62 when harvesting fruitsuch as peppers. This permit the tires and wheels 112 and 114 follow thecontour of the terrain and position the conical members 178 on theforward end of the left and right helix assemblies 168 and 170 at aselected elevation relative to plants with fruit that is beingharvested.

A drum conveyor 202 is mounted on the frame 12 to the rear of thevertical tube members 38, 76 and 80 of the frame 12 that form a verticalmast. The drum conveyor 202 sits on a pair of left side drive rollers204 and 206 on a horizontal axis parallel to the normal direction offorward movement. The left side driven rollers 204 and 206 are supportedon a shaft 208 journaled in a bearing block 210 bolted to transversehorizontal tube 82 and a bearing block 212 bolted to rear transversehorizontal tube 90. The drum conveyor 202 also sits on a pair of rightside driven rollers 214 and 216 on a horizontal axis parallel to thenormal direction of forward movement. The right side driven rollers 214and 216 are supported on a shaft 218 journaled in bearing block 220 anda bearing block 222. The bearing block 220 is mounted on an arm 224welded to the transverse horizontal tube 82. The bearing block 222 ismounted on an arm 226 welded to the rear transverse horizontal tube 90.Rubber rollers 228 and 230 limit rearward movement of the conveyor drum202. Rubber rollers 232 and 234 limit forward movement of the conveyordrum 202. Additional rollers can be provided to hold the conveyor drumin a vertical position. The rollers 228, 230, 232 and 234 have centerbearings, a metal carrier wheel and a rubber periphery.

The drum conveyor 202 includes a cylindrical tube 236. A front wall 238is fixed to the cylindrical tube 236 and extends radially inward fromthe cylindrical tube. A rear wall 240 is also fixed to the cylindricaltube 236 and extends radially inward from the cylindrical tube. Acircular aperture 242 is provided through the front wall 238. A circularaperture 244 is also provided through the rear wall 240. A plurality ofdivider plates 246 extend from the front wall 238 to the rear wall 240and radially inward from the cylindrical tube 236 to form fruitreceiving pockets 248. The outer surface of the cylindrical tube 236sits on the left side driven rollers 204 and 206 right side drivenrollers 214 and 216. The left shaft 208 and attached left side drivenrollers 204 and 206 are rotated by a hydraulic motor 250. The rightshaft 218 attached to the right side driven rollers 214 and 216 isrotated by a hydraulic motor 252. Both hydraulic motors 250 and 252 worktogether to rotate the drum conveyor 202. The drum conveyor 202 can berotated in a clockwise direction or in a counter clockwise direction bythe hydraulic motors 250 and 252 as seen in FIG. 2.

The right and left continuous belt and slat conveyors 190 and 192 conveyharvested fruit through the circular aperture 242 through the front wall238. A fixed plate 254 shown in FIG. 2, keeps fruit from passing throughthe circular aperture 244 through the rear wall 240 of the drum conveyor202. Fruit discharged from right and left continuous belt and a slatconveyors 190 and 192, is directed into the fruit receiving pockets 248in the drum conveyor 202. An arcuate fixed plate 256 starting at aboutforty five degrees from the bottom center of the drum conveyor 202 andextending from the front wall 238 to the rear wall 240 closes the fruitreceiving pocket 248. The arcuate fixed plate 256 is on the left handside of the drum conveyor 202 as shown in FIG. 3. An identical arcuatefixed plate 256 can be provided in the right hand side of the drumconveyor 202 if desired. The upper edge of the plate 256 is anchored tothe frame 12. The drum conveyor 202 elevates harvested fruit up to thetop of the drum conveyor and drops the fruit into a fruit separating andcleaning assembly 260. A fruit discharge from the drum conveyor isdefined by the left vertical side wall 262, the right vertical sidewall264 of the cleaning assembly and the front wall 238 and the rear wall240 of the drum conveyor. The cylindrical tube 236 can be expanded metalor a metal band with apertures for discharge of foreign matter such assand and water.

The separating and cleaning assembly 260 includes a left vertical sidewall 262 and a right vertical side wall 264. The forward end of the leftvertical side wall 262 is clamped by bolts 268 to a left vertical beam266 that is welded to the transverse horizontal tube 84 of the frame 12and extends downward. The forward end of the right vertical side wall264 is clamped by bolts 268 to a right vertical beam 270 that is alsowelded to the transverse horizontal tube 84. Two bridge members 272 and274, shown in FIG. 2, with horizontal beams 276 and integral verticalbeams 278 on each end are welded to the vertical side walls 262 and 264.A plurality upper star wheel horizontal shafts 280 are journaled on thevertical side walls 262 and 264. The axes of the star wheel horizontalshafts 280 are in a common plane that extends rearward and upward. Eachstar wheel 282 has a plurality of generally radially extending resilientfingers 284 and a central bore 283 that receives the a star wheelhorizontal shaft 280. A plurality of star wheels 282 are secured to eachstar wheel shaft 280 in side by side relationship and extend from theleft side wall 262 to the right side wall 264. There is a space betweenthe star wheels 282 on adjacent star wheel shafts 280 for the passage offruit being cleaned.

A plurality of plate shafts 286 are journaled on the vertical side walls262 and 264. The axes of the plate shafts 286 are parallel to each otherand to the star wheel shafts 280. Plate assemblies 288 with a centralhubs 290 and square shaft passages 292 are fixed to the plate shafts286. A plate member 294 of each plate assembly 288 is preferably squareand has four edge surfaces 285. The edge surfaces 285 impart verticallyupward force on fruit and convey fruit in one direction. Plate memberswith other shapes can be used in place of the square plate members.These alternate plate assemblies may also have more than four edgesurfaces. A plurality of plate assemblies 288 are mounted on each plateshaft 286 in side by side relation and extend from the left verticalside wall 262 to the right vertical side wall 264. The plurality ofplate shafts 286 have axes that are all in a horizontal plane. The platemembers 294 on each plate shaft 286 extend between the plate members onadjacent shafts 286.

A continuous roller chain 295 is trained around a drive sprocket 296driven by a hydraulic motor. The continuous roller chain 295 is alsotrained across the top of sprockets 300 mounted on each star wheel shaft280. A hold down bar or slide may be provided to hold the chain 295 inengagement with each sprocket 300 on each star wheel shaft 280. Thecontinuous roller chain 295 is trained under a first idler sprocket 302and across the top of sprockets 304 mounted on each plate shaft 286.Chain hold down sprockets 306 are provided to hold the continuous rollerchain in engagement with the sprockets 304 mounted on each plate shaft286. The continuous chain 295 runs from the forward chain hold downsprocket 306 to the drive sprocket 296. The drive sprocket is driven ina counter clock-wise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, by a hydraulicmotor.

A cross flow fan 308 with a housing 310 is mounted on the forward end ofthe vertical side walls 262 and 264. An air intake 312 of the cross flowfan is covered by an expanded metal grate 314. The fan shaft 316 isdriven by a hydraulic motor 318. Air discharged from the cross flow fan308 passes through fruit discharged from the drum conveyor 202 andseparates some leaves and other trash.

A hood 320 that covers the top of the fruit separating and cleaningassembly 260, is attached to the vertical side walls 262 and 264 and atransverse rear wall 322. The transverse rear wall 322 is fixed to therear of the side walls 262 and 264. Air from the cross flow fan 308carries leaves and other light weight plant material downward, betweenthe rear wall 322 and the rear star wheel horizontal shaft 280, towardthe ground.

The star wheels 282 on the star wheel horizontal shafts 280 let fruitpass through the space between the shafts and the star wheels. Largepieces of trash mixed with the crop material, received from the drumconveyor 202, are carried rearward and upward past the rear most starwheel shaft 280, discharged from the fruit separating and cleaningassembly 260 and fall to the ground. Fruit, such as chili peppers, thatpasses through the star wheels 282 on the star wheel shafts 280 fall tothe plate assemblies 288 on the plate shafts 286. The space between thestar wheel shafts 280 can be adjusted so that small fruit falls throughfirst toward the front of the cleaning assembly and the largest fruitfalls through the space between two star wheel shafts near the rear ofthe cleaning assembly. The rotating plate assemblies 288 on the plateshafts 286 have edge surfaces 285 and points 287 that engage fruit,throw the fruit upward and forward separating soil, sand, plantmaterial, and other foreign matter from the fruit. Substantially all ofthe separated material passes between the plate members 294 and to theground.

A transverse conveyor assembly 330 includes a conveyor trough 332 and acontinuous conveyor belt 334. The continuous belt 334 is trained arounda lower idler roller 336 and a driven roller 338. The driven roller 338is driven by a hydraulic motor 340. The idler roller 336 is adjusted byadjustment screws 342 to tension the continuous conveyor belt 334. Theconveyor trough 332 of the transverse conveyor assembly 330 receivescleaned fruit from the forward plate shaft 286 and attached plateassemblies 288 of the fruit separation and cleaning assembly 260. Thecontinuous conveyor belt 334 conveys the fruit received in the conveyortrough 332 to a discharge conveyor hopper 344 of a discharge conveyorassembly 346.

The discharge conveyor assembly 346 includes a lower conveyor trough 348secured to a support cradle 350. The cradle 350 includes two platemembers 352 and 354 secured to the lower portion of the lower conveyortrough 348. The discharge conveyor hopper 344 is secured to the platemembers 352 and 354. A vertical beam 356 is welded to the plate 352. Avertical beam 358 is welded to the plate 354. A horizontal beam 360 hasone end clamped to the vertical beam 356 and another end clamped to anupper portion of the lower conveyor trough 348. A second horizontal beam362 has one end clamped to the vertical beam 358 and another end clampedto an upper portion of the lower conveyor trough 348. An upper yoke 364is welded to the vertical beams 356 and 358 midway between the platemembers 352 and 354 and the first and second horizontal beams 360 and362. An upper trunnion assembly 366 pivotally attaches the yoke 364 to ahorizontal beam 368 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. Thehorizontal beam 368 is attached to the top of the vertical tube 38 andextends rearward from the vertical tube of the frame 12. A lower yoke370, shown in FIG. 7, is welded to the vertical beams 356 and 358 belowthe upper yoke 364. A lower trunnion assembly 372 pivotally attaches thelower yoke 370 to a horizontal beam 374 for pivotal movement about thesame vertical axis as the upper trunnion assembly 366. The horizontalbeam 374 is welded to the bottom end of a vertical tube 376 and to thevertical tube 38 of the frame 12. A plate 378, welded to the top of thevertical tube 376, is clamped to the horizontal beam 368 by a pluralityof bolts 380 that pass through an upper plate 382 and a lower plate 378.A hydraulic cylinder 384 is pivotally attached to an ear 386 on thevertical tube 38 by a pivot pin 388 and to an ear 390 on the verticalbeam 356 by a pivot pin 392. The hydraulic cylinder 384 is operable topivot the discharge conveyor assembly 346 more than ninety degrees aboutthe vertical axis of the upper trunnion assembly 366 and the lowertrunnion assembly 372.

An upper conveyor trough 394 is pivotally attached to the upper end ofthe lower conveyor trough 348. The pivot connection permits the upperconveyor trough 394 to be moved to a transport or storage position asshown in FIG. 7. During harvesting operations in the field, the upperconveyor trough 394 is clamped in a position in which it extends upwardand outward from the upper end of the lower conveyor trough 348 at thesame angle as the lower conveyor trough as shown in FIG. 1. A continuousconveyor belt 396 with slats 398 that hold and convey fruit is shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 1. The continuous conveyor belt 396 is trained around alower roller 400 supported by bearings 402 and an upper roller 404. Theupper roller 404 is driven by a hydraulic motor 406. The lower roller400 is moved by an adjustment screw 408 to apply the desired tension onthe continuous belt 396. The discharge conveyor assembly 346 is shown inFIG. 7 with the conveyor belt 396, the lower roller 400 and the upperroller 404 removed. A screen 409 is provided on the lower end of thelower conveyor trough for separation of sand and dirt. This screen 409extends part way around the lower roller 400 and attaches to a loweredge of the discharge conveyor hopper 344.

The harvested fruit can be collected in a container moving in the samedirection as the harvester 10 and to the left side of the harvester. Thecontainer is either on a self propelled vehicle or pulled by a separatetractor. When delivering fruit moving along on the left side of theharvester 10, the hydraulic cylinder 384 is retracted and the dischargeconveyor 346 extends laterally to the left side of the harvester. Theharvested fruit can also be delivered to a container on a trailer pulledbehind the harvester 10. A hitch beam 410 is welded to fore and afttubes 92 and 94 as well as to the horizontal transverse tube 18. Atrailer tongue is attached to tongues 412 and 414 extending rearwardfrom hitch beam 410. The hydraulic cylinder 384 is extended so that thedischarge conveyor 346 extends rearward and upward to discharge fruitinto a trailer towed behind the harvester 10.

Some crops harvested by the harvester 10 include some fruit or otherplant material that is considered undesirable. A platform 416 and aguard rail 418 that are both attached to the frame 12 form a workstation for a person to sort material on the continuous conveyor belt334 between the fruit separation and cleaning assembly 260 and thedischarge conveyor assembly 346. The person working on the work stationwould observe the harvested fruit conveyed on the belt 334 and separateundesirable material by hand.

The fruit separating and cleaning assembly 260 works well for somecrops. For other crops a different cleaning and separating assembly maybe desirable. The cleaning assembly 260 can be changed quickly bydisconnecting two hydraulic motors and removing the bolts 268.

During operation of the harvester 10, the main draft tube 36 of thehitch assembly 34 is attached to a towing tractor. The hitch assembly 34is adjusted to position the header assembly 60 to the right of thetractor. The header assembly is centered on the row of plants to beharvested. The tires and wheel assemblies 14 are to be positioned toroll on the ground on opposite sides of the row to be harvested. Bothwheels 14 should be centered between the row of plants to be harvestedand adjacent plant rows. The tractor tires should be centered to roll onthe ground between plant rows and to the left on the plant row to beharvested. A trailer or other vehicle, for receiving harvested fruit,should have wheels that run on the ground between plant rows. Thehydraulic motors are connected to a source of hydraulic fluid powered bythe towing tractor. A hydraulic pump that provides the hydraulic fluidcan be mounted on the harvester 10 or on the tractor. The front of theheader assembly 60 is lowered to move the tire and wheels 112 and 114into ground engagement. The tires and wheels 12 and 14 support asubstantial portion of the total weight of the header assembly.

As the harvester 10 is moved forward by the tractor, the snout tips 142and 144 move along the ground surface and lift low fruit. The snoutassemblies 126 and 128 continue to lift plant material and guide theplant material toward the plant feed assemblies 148 and 150. The plantmaterial feed fingers 156 move plant material between the cylindricaltubes 152 and the helix assemblies 168 and 170. As the plant stalksenter the slot between the inboard metal edges 188, the helixes 182formed by steel rods engage low plant fruit. As the plants progress intothe passage between the inboard metal edges 188 the helixes 182 engagefruit higher up on the plants. The plants pass through the slot betweenthe inboard metal edges 188 by the time they reach the cylindrical tubes184 of the helix assemblies 168 and 170. Each helix 188 lifts fruit thatis contacted upward, outward and rearward and removes mature fruit fromthe plant. The fruit severed from plants by the helix assemblies 168 and170 is deposited on continuous belt and slat conveyors 190 and 192.These conveyors 190 and 192 convey the fruit rearward and upward. Thefruit is discharged from the conveyors 190 and 192 into fruit receivingpockets 248 in a drum conveyor 202. The drum conveyor 202 elevates thefruit and drops the fruit into a fruit separating and cleaning assembly260.

A cross-flow fan 308 blows air through a stream of fruit falling intothe fruit separating and cleaning assembly 260. A hood 320 directs airfrom the cross flow fan 308 and light weight entrained material rearwardand downward out of the separating and cleaning assembly 260. The fruitand heavier foreign material lands on a bed of star wheels 282 on starwheel horizontal shafts 280. The star wheel horizontal shafts 280 rotateto move plant material rearward. The fruit falls downward between thestar wheels 282 and the star wheel shafts 280. Large pieces of cropmaterial are moved to the rear of the rear most star wheel shaft 280 andfall out of the fruit separating and cleaning assembly 260 together withthe air and light foreign material. The fruit that passes through thespace between star wheel horizontal shafts 280 lands on a bed of plateshafts 286 and plate assemblies 288. The rotating plate assemblies 288throw fruit upward and forward. Dirt, sand and other foreign materialfalls away from the fruit, moves between the rotating plate assemblies288 and falls to the ground.

Cleaned fruit discharged from the fruit separating and cleaning assembly260 is deposited on a transverse conveyor assembly 330. The transverseconveyor assembly 330 moves the fruit toward the discharge conveyor 346system on the left hand side of the harvester 10. The discharge conveyor346 elevates fruit and deposits the fruit in a moving container on theleft side of the harvester or in a container pulled behind theharvester.

Occasionally there is an irrigation ditch or other obstruction to cross.Either tire and wheel 112 or 114 can support the front of the headerassembly 60 with a rigid frame 62 while the other tire and wheel is upin the air.

Upon reaching the end of a plant row, the front of the header is raisedoff the ground to a road transport position while the harvester isturned around and lined up with another row of plants to be harvested.The front of the header assembly 60 is then lowered to let thenon-steerable tires and wheels 112 and 114 support the front of theheader assembly and follow the terrain.

The disclosed embodiments are representative of a presently preferredform of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

1. A pull type pepper harvester comprising: a frame a left tire andwheel journaled on the left side of the frame and laterally adjustableto position the left tire and wheel between two plant rows, and a righttire and wheel journaled on the right side of the frame and laterallyadjustable to position the right tire and wheel between two plant rows;a hitch assembly including a main draft tube with a draft tube rearportion pivotally attached to the frame by a pin for pivotal movementabout a vertical axis, a draft tube forward portion adapted to beconnected to a tractor, and an adjustable length strut pivotallyattached to the frame and to the main draft tube that is locked in anextended position to hold the frame in a harvesting position and that islocked in a retracted position to hold the frame in a transportposition; a header assembly including a rigid header frame with a headerframe rear portion attached to a transverse horizontal shaft journaledon the frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, aleft side ground engaging tire and wheel journaled on a left yokeassembly that is pivotally attached to a header frame front portion by aleft transverse horizontal pivot pin and a left adjustment assembly thatholds the left yoke assembly in selected positions about the lefttransverse horizontal pivot pin, a right side ground engaging tire andwheel journaled on a right yoke assembly that is pivotally attached tothe header frame front portion by a right transverse horizontal pivotpin and a right adjustment assembly that holds the right yoke assemblyin selected positions about the right transverse horizontal pivot pin, aleft helix assembly with a left conical member on a helix forward endand a left cylindrical tube on a helix rear end and a left helical barextending from the left conical member to the left cylindrical tube, aright helix assembly with a right conical member on a helix forward endand a right cylindrical tube on a helix rear end and a right helical barextending from the right conical member to the right cylindrical tube,at least one left bearing rotatably mounting the left helix assembly onthe rigid header frame with the left cylindrical tube above and to therear of the left conical member and at least one right bearing rotatablymounting the right helix assembly on rigid header frame in a positionwith a right helix axis in a common plane with a left helix axis of theleft helix assembly and spaced from the left helix assembly to form aplant passage between the left helix assembly and the right helixassembly, a left continuous belt and slat conveyor mounted on the rigidheader frame on the left side of the left helix assembly, a rightcontinuous belt and slat conveyor mounted on the rigid header frame onthe right side of the right helix assembly and wherein the leftcontinuous belt and slat conveyor and the right continuous belt and slatconveyor receive fruit separated from plants by the left helix assemblyand the right helix assembly and elevate and move the fruit to the rear;a header lift assembly including a lift bar assembly with a lift barupper end journaled on the transverse horizontal shaft, a headerhydraulic lift cylinder connected to the frame and to the lift barassembly and wherein extension of the header hydraulic lift cylindermoves a lift bar lower end into engagement with the rigid header frameand continued extension of the header hydraulic lift cylinder lifts theleft side ground engaging tire and wheel and the right side groundengaging tire and wheel to a transport position off the ground; anelevating conveyor mounted on the frame that receives harvested fruitfrom the left continuous belt and slat conveyor and from the rightcontinuous belt and slat conveyor on the rigid header frame and elevatesthe fruit; a fruit separating and cleaning assembly with a left verticalside wall, a left vertical wall rear end, and a left vertical wall frontend attached to the frame, a right vertical side wall, a right verticalwall rear end and a right vertical wall front end attached to the frame,a blower attached to the left vertical wall front end and the rightvertical wall front end, a transverse rear wall attached to the leftvertical wall rear end and a right vertical wall rear end, a hoodsecured to the transverse wall and extending forward to a fruit inletinto the fruit separating and cleaning assembly, a plurality ofhorizontal star wheel shafts each of which is journaled on the leftvertical side wall and the right vertical side wall, a plurality of starwheels with rubber fingers mounted on each star wheel shaft forming aseparation bead, a front star wheel shaft of the plurality of star wheelshafts that receives fruit and other plant material discharged from theelevating conveyor that passes through the fruit inlet and wherein thestar wheel shafts are spaced apart so that fruit passes downward betweenstar wheels on adjacent star wheel shafts and wherein the star wheelsare rotated to elevate the large pieces of plant material and convey thelarge pieces of plant material to a trash discharge chute between a rearstar wheel shaft and the transverse rear wall, a fan mounted on the leftvertical wall front end and the right vertical wall front end thatdischarges air forward of the fruit inlet and under the hood andseparates light trash from fruit and carries the separated light trashthrough the trash discharge chute, a plurality of horizontal plateshafts each of which is journaled on the left vertical side wall and theright vertical side wall and below the plurality of horizontal starwheel shafts, a plurality of plate assemblies mounted on each of theplurality of plate shafts and wherein the plurality of plate assemblieson each of the plurality of plate shafts extends between the pluralityof plate assemblies mounted on each adjacent one of the plurality ofplate shafts and wherein each plate assembly includes a periphery with aplurality of projections that engage fruit upon rotation of theplurality of plate shafts in a common direction, accelerate fruit upwardthereby separating foreign material from the fruit to pass down betweenthe plurality of plate assemblies and simultaneously conveys fruittoward a fruit discharge from the fruit separating and cleaningassembly; and a conveyor system mounted on the frame that receives fruitdischarged from the fruit separating and cleaning assembly and conveysfruit away from the pull type pepper harvester.
 2. A pull type pepperharvester, as set forth in claim 1, including a left helix front supportbearing supported by the rigid header frame and rotatably supporting theleft conical member, and a right helix front support bearing supportedby the rigid header frame and rotatably supporting the right conicalmember.
 3. A pull type pepper harvester, as set forth in claim 1,including a left snout assembly pivotally attached to the header framefront portion and covering the left side ground engaging wheel, and aright snout assembly pivotally attached to the header frame frontportion and covering the right side ground engaging wheel.
 4. A pulltype pepper harvester, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conveyorsystem mounted on the frame includes a transverse conveyor assembly thatreceives fruit discharged from the fruit separating and cleaningassembly discharge and conveys the fruit away from the fruit separatingand cleaning discharge, and a fruit discharge conveyor that receives afruit from the transverse conveyor assembly, elevates the fruit anddischarges fruit from the pull type pepper harvester.